Engineers Discuss Plans for Mudlocked ‘Old Gray Lady’

Teams of military and private experts analyzed blueprints of the mudlocked Intrepid at dockside Tuesday as they strategized on how to move the mighty World War II aircraft carrier for renovations.

The USS Intrepid, which defied kamikaze attacks, bombs and torpedoes during its legendary history, refused to budge from its berth Monday, sending six tug boats with a combined 30,000 horsepower home defeated.

As the tugs moved the ship, the ship’s massive propellers screwed themselves into a mound of mud. The mud pile built up higher, like a snow plow, with each subsequent pull, forcing officials to scrub the mission.

Intrepid officials were not deterred, and began working immediately to figure out a new course of attack.

“We are exploring all our options,” Bill White, president of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, said yesterday. “We will be presenting all of them to our chairman, Mr. Arnold Fisher, for review.”

White said he is working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and private industry experts. Senior Pentagon officials have also offered their assistance.

“The old gray lady is digging in her heels and didn’t want to leave her home in New York City,” Mr. White said. “They didn’t call her the fighting `I’ for nothing.”

On Monday, Intrepid received a glorious goodbye with a military band playing and politicians singing its praises while dozens of reporters, radio and television cameras recorded the departure of Intrepid, leaving for a two-year $60 million renovation project.

But for 90 minutes, tugs pulled from the stern while others pushed from the bow, and they could not move Intrepid off the mound of mud that had cradled the ship for the last 24 years.

As the tug boats moved the ship, its 16-foot propellers, buried themselves into the thick oozy sediment and prevented movement.

By PAT MILTON
Associated Press
November 8, 2006

NEW YORK SUN